Biofilm production of Pseudomonas spp. isolates from canine otitis in three different enrichment broths.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas spp. are commonly isolated from dogs with clinical otitis and have been shown to produce biofilm. There is a paucity of studies demonstrating biofilm growth in veterinary medicine. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To compare biofilm production of Pseudomonas spp. isolated from dogs with otitis using three different enrichment broths at two different time points. Speciation was performed. ANIMALS: One hundred isolates from 98 dogs with clinical otitis were assessed for biofilm production. METHODS AND MATERIALS: One hundred isolates were assessed for biofilm production using a microtitre plate assay. Biofilm production in Luria-Bertani Broth (LBB), Mueller-Hinton Broth (MHB) and Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) were assessed after 18 and 24 h of incubation. RESULTS: At 18 h, biofilm production was demonstrated in 87% of LBB, 91% of TSB and 93% of MHB grown isolates. By 24 h, this was 92% of LBB, 96% of TSB and 99% of MHB isolates. Biofilm production was significantly increased after 24 h incubation compared to 18 h. A significant difference was noted in biofilm production between LBB and MHB (P = 0.0349), but not between LBB and TSB (P = 0.3727) or MHB and TSB (P = 0.3687) at 24 h incubation. Two isolates were speciated as P. fluorescens and 98 as P. aeruginosa. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Not all enrichment broths were equivalent to one another and 24 h incubation was superior to 18 h. Biofilm production was high in this population of Pseudomonas spp. isolates.

Assessing the intake of obesity-related foods and beverages in young children: comparison of a simple population survey with 24 hr-recall.

BACKGROUND: With an increasing focus on obesity prevention there is a need for simple, valid tools to assess dietary indicators that may be the targets of intervention programs. The objective of this study was to determine the relative validity of previous day dietary intake using a newly developed parent-proxy questionnaire (EPAQ) for two to five year old children. METHODS: A convenience sample of participants (n = 90) recruited through preschools and the community in Geelong, Australia provided dietary data for their child via EPAQ and interviewer-administered 24-hour dietary recall (24 hr-recall). Comparison of mean food and beverage group servings between the EPAQ and 24 hr-recall was conducted and Spearman rank correlations were computed to examine the association between the two methods. RESULTS: Mean servings of food/beverage groups were comparable between methods for all groups except water, and significant correlations were found between the servings of food and beverages using the EPAQ and 24-hr recall methods (ranging from 0.57 to 0.88). CONCLUSION: The EPAQ is a simple and useful population-level tool for estimating the intake of obesity-related foods and beverages in children aged two to five years. When compared with 24-hour recall data, the EPAQ produced an acceptable level of relative validity and this short survey has application for population monitoring and the evaluation of population-based obesity prevention interventions for young children.

Computers in the elementary school classroom.

Children now use computers throughout their education. As schools have focused on purchasing computers and providing internet access, there has been little consideration of ergonomics. Even if educators and school administrators acknowledge students would benefit from better ergonomics, they may assume it is too expensive or not know where to begin. This paper describes one process used to implement low cost ergonomic improvements and provide training for teachers, staff and students in an elementary school.

Entrance qualifications and student performance in a hybrid problem bases and traditional medical programme

A hybrid problem based learning (PBL) and traditional programme was started at the Trinidad campus of the University of the West Indies in 1989. Analyses were carried out to determine the extent to which the entrance qualifications of the students were related to their performances at the examinations in the Phase I (preclinical and paraclinical) and Phase II (clinical) programmes. Students who were admitted on the basis of their results in the secondary school General Certificate of Examination (GCE), "A" level scored higher at the Phase I, but not at the Phase II, level than those who already had university education. Among the "A" level students, there was positive correlation between the total "A" level scores and the examination marks in the medical programme, particularly at the Phase I level. Futhermore, multiple regression analyses indicated that the grades in "A" level chemistry and, to a lesser extent in biology, had the most influence on performance at the Phase I examinations, with much less influence on performances at the Phase II examinations. These results suggest that good grades at "A" level examination are significant factors, but not the only important ones, that favour high achievement in the initial stages of this type of PBL/traditional medical programme.(AU)

Insulin release pattern after blockade of catecholamine synthesis with alpha-methyl tyrosine in vivo

Insulin release pattern in vivo was studied using 30 control rats and 30 rats treated with alpha-methyl tyrosine to block catecholamine synthesis in vivo four days before the time of investigation. The drug treated animals exhibited higher fasting insulin levels, and also the phase insulin release after the B cell was challenged with a glucose load was significantly higher in these animals than occurred in the controls. This observation implies that the B cell is modulated by the sympathetic nervous system in its function and the insulin release would vary according to the emotional state of the individual. (AU)